a few prosecutions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few prosecutions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of legal actions taken against individuals or entities for criminal offenses. Example: "The attorney general announced that there would be a few prosecutions related to the recent corruption scandal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Bad publicity, a few prosecutions, and some stiffened regulatory requirements here and there couldn't explain that.

The New Yorker

In 2014, more than 175,000 complaints were made to the commissioner, but there have been only a few prosecutions.

The Guardian - Money

We might see a few prosecutions – particularly if the government opts to apply the law, partially in order to make examples of organisations it doesn't like.

The Guardian

Jefferson wrote that "a few prosecutions of the most prominent [Federalist] offenders would have a wholesome effect in restoring the integrity of the presses," not "process".

The New York Times

Last year there were more than 175,000 complaints made to the commissioner about nuisance calls and texts, but there have been only a few prosecutions.

The Guardian - Money

Jefferson may have said fine things to foreign visitors after he became president, but he wrote domestic allies privately that "a few prosecutions of the most prominent [Federalist] offenders would have a wholesome effect in restoring the integrity of the process".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Mr. Muhammad's court-appointed lawyers presented a three-hour defense that consisted of five witnesses and 25 exhibits intended to cast doubt on the testimony of a few prosecution witnesses.

The New York Times

During the latter days of prohibition hawkers with what they called "whiskey candy" showed up in Times Square, If a food inspector pounced on one of them, his stock was confiscated, but he couldn't be arr ested until the candy was analyzed, and, as he nearly always gave a fictitious address, very few prosecutions followed.

The New Yorker

Rape is still a potent weapon of war, with few prosecutions of perpetrators.

The Guardian

Barnes said it was "curious" that this case had been acted on "with alacrity by police" and that the woman was charged with a crime, as there have been "very few" prosecutions of people for unauthorised access of data.

The Guardian

There were a few successful prosecutions.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few prosecutions", ensure that the context clearly indicates the specific area or type of offense being prosecuted. For example, specify "a few prosecutions for fraud" or "a few prosecutions related to environmental violations".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the significance of "a few prosecutions". While any legal action is important, presenting a small number of cases as a widespread crackdown can be misleading. Ensure your language accurately reflects the limited scale.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few prosecutions" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is appropriate for use in written English. It quantifies the limited number of legal actions, indicating that while some prosecutions exist, they are not widespread.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few prosecutions" is a grammatically correct phrase that describes a small quantity of legal actions, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's most frequently encountered in news and media contexts, where it serves to inform the reader about the scope of law enforcement efforts. While the phrase is suitable for neutral and professional registers, it's crucial to avoid overstating the impact of a limited number of prosecutions. Remember to provide specific context and consider alternatives like "some legal actions" or "a small number of trials" depending on the desired nuance. The authoritative sources in Ludwig's examples include The Guardian, The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a handful of legal proceedings

Uses "handful" to emphasize small quantity and "legal proceedings" to formalize the term.

some legal actions

Emphasizes the actions taken through the legal system, focusing less on the result of 'prosecutions'.

several court cases

Replaces "prosecutions" with a more general term "court cases", but suggests more than just a few.

a small number of trials

Replaces 'prosecutions' with 'trials', highlighting the judicial process involved.

occasional legal actions

Highlights the infrequent nature of the legal actions, adding a temporal dimension.

limited number of cases brought to court

More descriptive and formal, specifying the 'cases' and their progression to 'court'.

a restricted number of indictments

Focuses on the indictments, the formal accusations, rather than the broader process of prosecution.

selective enforcement

Focuses on the idea of selective application of the law, not just the number of prosecutions.

isolated instances of prosecution

Highlights that the prosecutions are not part of a wider trend, emphasizing their uniqueness.

sparse legal pursuits

Emphasizes the lack of frequency in pursuing legal action, sounding more formal.

FAQs

How can I use "a few prosecutions" in a sentence?

You can use "a few prosecutions" to indicate a small number of legal cases being pursued. For example, "Despite numerous complaints, there have only been "a few prosecutions"." The phrase implies the number is less than expected or desired.

What are some alternatives to saying "a few prosecutions"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "some legal actions", "a small number of trials", or "limited number of cases brought to court".

Is it better to say "few prosecutions" or "a few prosecutions"?

"Few prosecutions" suggests a general lack of legal action, while ""a few prosecutions"" indicates that some, but not many, cases are being pursued. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What does it imply when there are "a few prosecutions"?

The phrase ""a few prosecutions"" often implies that the legal system is either under-resourced, reluctant to pursue certain cases, or that the offenses themselves are difficult to prove, thus suggesting a potential problem with enforcement.